“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed,” these are some of the most famous words that Martin Luther King, Jr. ever spoke.

Those words come from his 17-minute “I have a dream” speech that he gave in Washington, D.C. in 1963, where he spoke out against racism, and said he believed America could live up to its creed that all men are created equal.

It has been 45 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. And the Calhoun, Gordon County community will celebrate the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year with the theme “Team Work Makes the Dream Work.”

On Sunday, January 20 at 4 p.m. there will be a Martin Luther King, Jr. ecumenical service at the Friendship Baptist Church.

There will be special singers and speakers to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream. Some of the guests include Judge Richie Parker, Carmen Free, Virgil Harrison and Chosen Few and Anointed Praize dancers out of Rome. The speakers will include Councilmember Al Edwards, Councilmember Matt Barton, Dr. Margaret Sherman, Attorney John C. Leggett and City Administrator Eddie Peterson.

The keynote speaker for the hour will be Pastor and author, Dr. Christopher Bowen of the Living Tabernacle in Forest Park.

Dr. Chris Bowen holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Oral Roberts University.

After the service there will be a Coretta Scott King reception at The Fork Restaurant, 474 Red Bud Road N.E., Calhoun.

Everyone is invited to attend the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and the Coretta Scott King reception.

On Monday, January 21 come and join everyone at the memorial sight any time during the day to place a flower at the MLK memorial on Court St.

For more information, or if anyone would like to be in the program, please contact Walter Harris at 770-899-9759 or 706-602-1544.

To bring the celebration to a culmination, the fifth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March will also be held on Monday, January 21.

Everyone is asked to start meeting at 10 a.m. at the McConnell Community Center on McConnell Road.

The march will launch from the community center at 11 a.m. and continue to the courthouse for a brief ceremony.

The remembrance celebrations will end at Calhoun Seventh Day Adventist Church at 4 p.m. for food and more Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations.

For more information contact Mitzi Gaines at 706-263-2533, Lamesher George at 706-523-2168, Marcedes Sturges at 313-218-4872 or Brandi Howard at 706-263-1248.

“He had a dream so let’s keep it alive,” the coordinators of this event said.